Manama: A crackdown by Kuwaiti authorities on people staying illegally in the country is not being conducted against a specific nationality, a senior official has said.

“We are not targeting certain nationalities or segments of the society and there are no red lines to deport those breaking the law, even if they are Americans,” Shaikh Faisal Al Nawaf, the interior ministry assistant undersecretary for nationality, passports and immigration, said. “Anyone whose status in the country does not conform with the law and regulations will be deported regardless of the nationality,” he said.

With a dominant role for the Asian community among the 2.2 million foreigners living in Kuwait, most of those who were deported for staying illegally in the country were from Asia, prompting remarks that nationalities from the continent were a specific target in the crackdown drive launched this year.

The official said that the security campaign by the interior ministry against expatriates staying or working illegally in the country and against those involved in grave traffic violations would continue, Kuwaiti daily Al Rai reported on Wednesday.

Kuwaiti sponsors who harbour violators or do not report them to the security authorities could be barred from sponsoring foreigners, he said.

However, expatriate sponsors who do not report violations would be deported, Shaikh Faisal said.

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